281.75 History History: 1983 a. 410; 1985 a. 22, 29; 1989 a. 31; 1991 a. 39; 1993 a. 413; 1995 a. 27 ss. 4208 to 4210, 9116 (5); 1995 a. 227 s. 401; Stats. 1995 s. 281.75.
281.77 281.77 Damage to water supplies.
281.77(1) (1) In this section:
281.77(1)(a) (a) "Private water supply" means a well that is used as a water supply for humans or a well that is constructed by drilling and is used as a water supply for livestock, as defined in s. 95.80 (1) (b), or poultry.
281.77(1)(b) (b) "Regulated activity" means an activity for which the department may issue an order under chs. 285 or 289 to 299 or this chapter, except s. 281.48, if the activity is conducted in violation of chs. 285 or 289 to 299 or this chapter, except s. 281.48, or in violation of licenses, permits or special orders issued or rules promulgated under chs. 285 or 289 to 299 or this chapter, except s. 281.48.
281.77(2) (2)
281.77(2)(a)(a) Except as provided under par. (b), if the department finds that a regulated activity has caused a private water supply to become contaminated, polluted or unfit for consumption by humans, livestock or poultry, the department may conduct a hearing on the matter. The department shall conduct a hearing on the matter upon request of the owner or operator of the regulated activity. At the close of the hearing, or at any time if no hearing is held, the department may order the owner or operator of the regulated activity to treat the water to render it fit for consumption by humans, livestock and poultry, repair the private water supply or replace the private water supply and to reimburse the town, village or city for the cost of providing water under sub. (4).
281.77(2)(b) (b) If the department finds that a regulated activity caused a private water supply to become contaminated, polluted or unfit for consumption by humans, livestock or poultry, and if the regulated activity is an approved facility, as defined in s. 289.01 (3), the department may conduct a hearing under s. 292.31 (3) (f). If the damage to the private water supply is caused by an occurrence not anticipated in the plan of operation which poses a substantial hazard to public health or welfare, the department may expend moneys in the environmental fund that are available for environmental repair to treat the water to render it drinkable, or to repair or replace the private water supply, and to reimburse the town, village or city for the cost of providing water under sub. (4). If the damage to the private water supply is not caused by an occurrence not anticipated in the plan of operation, if the damage does not pose a substantial hazard to public health or welfare, or if moneys in the environmental fund that may be used for environmental repair are insufficient, the department may order the owner or operator of the regulated activity to treat the water to render it fit for consumption by humans, livestock and poultry, or to repair or replace the private water supply, and to reimburse the town, village or city for the cost of providing water under sub. (4).
281.77(3) (3) In any action brought by the department of justice under s. 299.95, if the court finds that a regulated activity owned or operated by the defendant has caused a private water supply to become contaminated, polluted or unfit for consumption by humans, livestock or poultry, the court may order the defendant to treat the water to render it fit for consumption by humans, livestock and poultry, repair the private water supply or replace the private water supply and to reimburse the town, village or city for the cost of providing water under sub. (4).
281.77(4) (4)
281.77(4)(a)(a) The owner of land where the private water supply is located may submit the following information to the town, village or city where the private water supply is located:
281.77(4)(a)1. 1. Documentation from an action under sub. (2) or (3) showing that the department or the department of justice is seeking to obtain treatment, repair or replacement of the damaged private water supply.
281.77(4)(a)2. 2. A declaration of the need for an immediate alternative source of water.
281.77(4)(b) (b) A person who submits information under par. (a) may file a claim with the town, village or city where the private water supply is located. The town, village or city shall supply necessary amounts of water to replace that water formerly obtained from the damaged private water supply. Responsibility to supply water commences at the time the claim is filed. Responsibility to supply water ends upon notification to the town, village or city that an order under sub. (2) or (3) has been complied with or upon a finding that the regulated activity is not the cause of the damage.
281.77(4)(c) (c) If the department or the court does not find that the regulated activity is the cause of the damage to a private water supply, reimbursement to the town, village or city for the costs of supplying water under par. (b), if any, is the responsibility of the person who filed the claim. The town, city or village may assess the owner of the property where the private water supply is located for the costs of supplying water under this subsection by a special assessment under s. 66.60.
281.77 History History: 1981 c. 374; 1983 a. 27 s. 2202 (38); 1983 a. 410 ss. 75g to 77g; Stats. 1983 s. 144.265; 1989 a. 31; 1995 a. 227 s. 433; Stats. 1995 s. 281.77.
subch. VII of ch. 281 SUBCHAPTER VII
GREAT LAKES REMEDIAL ACTION
281.81 281.81 Definitions. In this subchapter:
281.81(1) (1) "International joint commission" has the meaning given in s. 281.35 (1) (h).
281.81(2) (2) "Remedial action plan" means a comprehensive plan to clean up and restore the environment in a contaminated area that is in or adjacent to Lake Michigan or Lake Superior or a tributary of Lake Michigan or Lake Superior and that is identified as an area of concern by the international joint commission under the Great Lakes water quality agreement.
281.81 History History: 1995 a. 227 s. 412.
281.83 281.83 Remedial action in the Great Lakes and their tributaries.
281.83(1)(1) The department may perform activities to clean up or to restore the environment in an area that is in or adjacent to Lake Michigan or Lake Superior or a tributary of Lake Michigan or Lake Superior if the activities are included in a remedial action plan that is approved by the department.
281.83(2) (2) In selecting projects to perform under this section, the department shall consider the amount of state funds available, the availability of matching funds from federal, private or other sources, the willingness and ability of a responsible person to fund a project, the willingness and ability of a local governmental unit, as defined in s. 281.51 (1) (c), to undertake or assist in a project, the severity of the environmental contamination that a project will address and the size of the population affected by the contamination.
281.83(3) (3)
281.83(3)(a)(a) If a person provides funding for an activity that is part of a remedial action plan, that provision of funding is not evidence of liability or an admission of liability for any environmental contamination.
281.83(3)(b) (b) The acceptance by the department of funding from a person for an activity that is part of a remedial action plan does not limit the ability of the department to take action against that person if the department determines that the person is responsible, in whole or in part, for environmental contamination.
281.83 History History: 1995 a. 227 ss. 411, 413.
281.85 281.85 Great Lakes protection fund share. The department may use moneys from the appropriation under s. 20.370 (2) (ah) for any of the following purposes:
281.85(1) (1) To implement activities included in a remedial action plan.
281.85(2) (2) To restore or protect fish or wildlife habitats in or adjacent to Lake Michigan or Lake Superior.
281.85(3) (3) For planning or providing information related to cleaning up or protecting the Great Lakes.
281.85 History History: 1995 a. 227 ss. 414, 416.
subch. VIII of ch. 281 SUBCHAPTER VIII
GENERAL PROVISIONS; ENFORCEMENT
281.91 281.91 State agency personnel to report water pollution. Personnel of all state agencies shall report any evidence of water pollution found by them to the department.
281.91 History History: 1995 a. 227 ss. 396, 987.
281.92 281.92 Limitation. Nothing in this chapter affects ss. 196.01 to 196.79 or ch. 31.
281.92 History History: 1979 c. 221 s. 624; Stats. 1979 s. 144.27; 1995 a. 227 s. 435; Stats. 1995 s. 281.92.
281.94 281.94 Investigation of alleged water withdrawal violations.
281.94(1)(1) Any 6 or more residents of this state may petition for an investigation of a withdrawal, as defined under s. 281.35 (1) (m), alleged to be in violation of s. 281.35 (3) (a), in violation of a condition, limitation or restriction of a permit or approval issued in conformance with s. 281.35 (6) (a) or in violation of any rule promulgated under s. 281.35 (3) (a) or (4) to (6) by submitting to the department a petition identifying the alleged violator and setting forth in detail the reasons for believing a violation occurred. The petition shall state the name and address of a person in this state authorized to receive service of answer and other papers on behalf of the petitioners and the name and address of a person authorized to appear at a hearing on behalf of the petitioners. 
281.94(2) (2) Upon receipt of a petition, the department shall do one of the following:
281.94(2)(a) (a) If the department determines that the allegations are true, order the alleged violator to take whatever action is necessary to achieve compliance with the statute, rule, condition, limitation or restriction.
281.94(2)(b) (b) Conduct a contested case hearing on the allegations of the petition. Within 60 days after the hearing, the department shall either dismiss the petition or notify the alleged violator of its finding that the allegations are true and order the alleged violator to take whatever action is necessary to achieve compliance with the statute, rule, condition, limitation or restriction.
281.94(2)(d) (d) If the department determines that the allegations are untrue or that the petition was filed maliciously or in bad faith, dismiss the petition without holding a hearing.
281.94(3) (3) Any person who maliciously or in bad faith files a petition under sub. (1) is liable for attorney fees and damages or other appropriate relief to the person that is the subject of the petition.
281.94 History History: 1985 a. 60; 1995 a. 227 s. 827; Stats. 1995 s. 281.94.
281.95 281.95 Remedies; water withdrawal violations. Any person who makes a withdrawal, as defined under s. 281.35 (1) (m), in violation of s. 281.35 (3) (a), in violation of a condition, limitation or restriction of a permit or approval issued in conformance with s. 281.35 (6) (a) or in violation of any rule promulgated under s. 281.35 (3) (a) or (4) to (6) is liable to any person who is adversely affected by the withdrawal for damages or other appropriate relief. Any person who is or may be adversely affected by an existing or proposed withdrawal, as defined under s. 281.35 (1) (m), which is in violation of a condition, limitation or restriction of a permit or approval issued in conformance with s. 281.35 (6) (a) or in violation of any rule promulgated under s. 281.35 (4) to (6) may bring an action in the circuit court to restrain or enjoin the withdrawal.
281.95 History History: 1985 a. 60; 1995 a. 227 s. 828; Stats. 1995 s. 281.95.
281.96 281.96 Visitorial powers of department. Every owner of an industrial establishment shall furnish to the department all information required by it in the discharge of its duties under subch. II, except s. 281.17 (6) and (7). Any member of the natural resources board or any employe of the department may enter any industrial establishment for the purpose of collecting such information, and no owner of an industrial establishment shall refuse to admit such member or employe. The department shall make such inspections at frequent intervals. The secretary and all members of the board shall have power for all purposes falling within the department's jurisdiction to administer oaths, issue subpoenas, compel the attendance of witnesses and the production of necessary or essential data.
281.96 History History: 1195 a. 227 ss. 402, 403.
281.97 281.97 Records; inspection. Records required by the department shall be kept by the owners and the department supplied with certified copies and such other information as it may require. Agents of the department may enter buildings, structures and premises of owners supplying the public or industrial plants with water, ice, sewerage systems, sewage or refuse disposal service and private properties to collect samples, records and information, and to ascertain if the rules and orders of the department are complied with.
281.97 History History: 1995 a. 227 s. 410; Stats. 1995 s. 281.97.
281.98 281.98 Penalties.
281.98(1)(1) Except as provided in ss. 281.47 (1) (d) and 281.75 (19), any person who violates this chapter or any rule promulgated or any plan approval, license or special order issued under this chapter shall forfeit not less than $10 nor more than $5,000 for each violation. Each day of continued violation is a separate offense. While an order is suspended, stayed or enjoined, this penalty does not accrue.
281.98(2) (2) In addition to the penalties provided under sub. (1), the court may award the department of justice the reasonable and necessary expenses of the investigation and prosecution of the violation, including attorney fees. The department of justice shall deposit in the state treasury for deposit into the general fund all moneys that the court awards to the department or the state under this subsection. Ten percent of the money deposited in the general fund that was awarded under this subsection for the costs of investigation and the expenses of prosecution, including attorney fees, shall be credited to the appropriation account under s. 20.455 (1) (gh).
281.98 History History: 1995 a. 227.
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